Electrical impedance properties of bulk carbon nanotube (CNT) composite electrodes have been studied to develop
chemical and biosensors. The CNTs embedded in composite electrodes were fabricated by means of traditional film
casting and electrospun nanoweb. The morphology of the bulk CNT electrode was investigated by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Under the various amounts of buffer solution,
electrical impedance of the composite electrodes was measured by means of LCR meter. It is generally known that
electrical impedance measurement provides rapid and simple sensing mechanism. In this study, we found out that CNT
bulk composite electrodes showed good sensing properties for chemical and bio sensors.
A multifunctional structural nanoskin is being developed using Carbon Nanosphere Chains (CNSC) and a polymer.
Three suites of properties are particularly important in developing the nanoskin; good elastic properties, good
electrical properties, and good transducer properties. The CNSC material is first studied in the bulk form.
Preliminary results show CNSC are well crystallized graphitic structures with spherical shape connected in chains.
The CNSC are almost catalyst free, and are lightweight and hydrophobic. The CNSC morphology is between that of
spheres and cylinders. Initial testing was done to characterize the CNSC and to determine if the nanosphere chains
can be purified and then dispersed to reinforce an epoxy polymer. The testing involved evaluation of the mechanical
properties and electrical conductivity of an epoxy nanocomposite material. A simple analysis of series and parallel
fiber reinforcement of polymers was performed first and predicted that limited improvement in stiffness is possible
using discontinuous fibers, while a large improvement is possible using continuous fibers. Epoxy nanocomposites
were then formed by simultaneously mixing CNSC and epoxy using a shear mixer and ultrasonicator. The elastic
properties of the cured nanocomposite showed small improvement with small percentages of the CNSC added to the
polymer. On the other hand, compressed CNSC powder has high electrical conductivity. Therefore, a nanoskin
material was designed by dispersing CNSC in a solvent, solution casting the solvent into a thin film in a mold,
covering the film with epoxy, and closing the mold and curing under pressure. Evaluation of the material is still
underway, but the nanoskin has electrical conductivity on one side and is electrically insulating on the other side. A
major advantage of the CNSC material is that is can be produced in large quantities at reasonable cost for many
potential applications.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.